“Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end.” Matthew 24:13 (MSG)
Was Jesus talking to his followers when He said these words, or was He reminding Himself? He just finished creating a riot by overturning the money changers’ tables. He has just walked away from his tongue lashing of the religious leaders in the temple. They won’t put up with it. They will kill Jesus to preserve their social standing and public reputations. The pieces are in place. The end is near. Jesus has been telling His followers for months that He is going to be handed over to the religious leaders and be killed. Now the wheels have begun to move. This is it.
“Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end,” He said to His followers; He said to Himself.
It is Maundy (meaning “sorrowful”) Thursday as I write this. It is the day we remember Jesus last meal, His betrayal, His desperate prayer to the Father to be released from the sacrificial death that was required of Him to pay the penalty of our sins and make way for forgiveness.
“Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end.”
Today, I remember and celebrate that Jesus stayed with it to the end. I’m also reminded of the song I sang on a cold February night 30 years ago when I set out on this journey:
I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
No turning back. No turning back.
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- Lavish Love and Unashamed Gratitude (crt010304.wordpress.com)
- Jesus True Light of Hope (mudpreacher.org)
- Beloved (denimdevotion.wordpress.com)
- Running the Christian Race (walkonwater727.wordpress.com)
- Perseverance (thethirdcross.wordpress.com)
13-14″Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.
Perserverance. It’s one of the lessons I’ve learned over the past 18 months. God never forgets us and is always with us. I’ve grown alot and in spite of the pain I am thankful. Last time I checked, it’s not always comfortable when one is stretched.